Virginia Tech’s season opener had a little bit of everything: a blowout on the scoreboard, a breakout scoring night from Ben Hammond, and a messy but productive debut for Tobi Lawal’s replacement in the backcourt, Jaden Curry.
The Hokies cruised past Coppin State 88-54 on Tuesday at Cassell Coliseum, and the result never really felt in doubt once Virginia Tech settled in. The offense came in waves, the defense forced mistakes, and the home team had enough shot-making to keep the Eagles from ever finding a foothold.
Curry, the Oklahoma State transfer who spent one season with the Cowboys after two years at UMass, led Virginia Tech with 19 points in his first game in an ACC uniform. He did it on 6-of-9 shooting and hit 3 of 6 from deep, giving the Hokies an early look at the scoring punch he can bring. But the night also came with plenty of rough edges: Curry had a game-high six turnovers, and Virginia Tech finished with 10 overall.
“He's a good basketball player,” Young said. “I don't know in 41 years of coaching that I've had a point guard with one assist and six turnovers.
That's disgusting. He made three [3-point] shots.
He's a good player, but we've got to have better point guard play.
“We will, and he understands. But just atrocious, a couple of the turnovers. He gets loose and just not as tight as a Virginia Tech point guard must be.”
Hammond was the other major headliner. He buried four 3-pointers on the way to a team-high 20 points, and he turned the game into a showcase for his hands on the defensive end.
Hammond came away with seven steals, a new career high and just two shy of the program record of eight. It was also the third time in the last two seasons that he finished with at least five steals, following six against Syracuse and five against Virginia in 2025-26.
“I would just say my anticipation,” Hammond said on his ability to garner steals. “Just seeing a lot of basketball, seeing a lot of plays, knowing what's really coming next.”
Per Tech Sideline, it was the first time since Jamon Gordon against Illinois in the 2007 NCAA Tournament that a player finished with seven steals.
Virginia Tech shot 13-for-28 from 3-point range, good for 46.4%, and four Hokies hit at least two triples. That spacing helped the offense move at a comfortable pace, especially with Hammond, Curry and Amani Hansberry doing most of the heavy lifting.
Hansberry finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists on 6-of-11 shooting, while also knocking down both of his 3-point attempts. He gave Virginia Tech a steady presence inside and out.
“We're going to do a better job of giving Hansberry the ball,” Hansberry said. “He's got to have more touches. He made the most of his touches.”
Tyler Johnson added another all-around line, putting up 13 points and seven assists, along with two assists a block and a steal, while shooting 3-of-6 from the field. He played the joint-fourth most minutes on the team behind Hammond, Hansberry and Curry, and that trio combined for 55 of Virginia Tech’s 88 points.
“... Tyler, to his credit, he banged that three down the first half,” Young said.
“He shot his fouls well. You know what you're getting.
He's a junkyard dog and tough.”
The Hokies weren’t dominant everywhere. Coppin State actually won the blocks battle 5-1, and Virginia Tech committed 14 turnovers.
Still, the Eagles’ 24 turnovers and 36.5% shooting from the field made it hard for them to keep pace. Virginia Tech also limited Coppin State to 2-for-12 from 3-point range, and the Hokies won the rebounding battle 38-29.
Young said some of the Eagles’ giveaways were gifts rather than forced mistakes.
“I don't know that we forced 24; they kicked several to us,” Young said. “Not going to happen very often.
Certainly not in our league. It's not going to happen Thursday against Mercer.
We're going to have to play better basketball.”
Virginia Tech is back in action Thursday, Nov. 5, against Mercer at home. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
ET on ACC Network Extra. It will be the second meeting between the programs and the first since 1973-74, when Virginia Tech won 75-65.
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